BENICIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
AUTOMATED LICENSE
PLATE READERS
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Background
• Beginning 2021 held a number of community meetings to
discuss the technology.
• May 18, 2021 – Council approved 45 cameras.
• Policy created with best practices, with guidance from City
Attorney’s Office
• September 2021 – installed and operable.
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Automated License Plate Readers
What do they do? What don’t they do?
• License plate recognition • No facial recognition
• Capture vehicle details
• Not a video recording
• Alert police of wanted vehicles
• Not used for traffic or immigration
• Used to solve crime
enforcement
• Data automatically deletes every 30 day
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Policy
• Law enforcement purpose only
• Individual login and password
• All users receive training and must acknowledge policy
• All searches are tracked and recorded
• Only share for law enforcement purposes within California.
Written agreement required.
• Internal quarterly audits
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Locations
45 CAMERAS
15 square miles
Population: ±
28,000
Black: Entry/Exit
points
Green: Major
intersections
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
ALPR Data Analysis
September 2021-August 2023
• Total arrests: 108 (84% non-Benicia Residents/16% Benicia residents)
• Violent offenders: 10 (murder, armed robberies, assaults, etc.)
• Guns seized: 20
• Drugs seized incidents: 32
• Total stolen vehicles recovered: 55
• Total value of recovered property: $574,615
• Catalytic converter theft incidents: 11
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Successes
First Street restaurant burglary arrests – A burglary occurred at a
Downtown restaurant and Detectives were able to obtain the license
plate number using the ALPR system, which led them to identify the
suspect’s vehicle. Detectives were able to get a confession and
warrants for the arrest of the suspects.
Armed robbery suspect arrest – Officers responded to an ALPR
activation regarding a vehicle used in a robbery at a business in Contra
Costa County. One of our Officers located the vehicle behind a Bank in
Downtown Benicia. The suspect was arrested after a short foot pursuit
and a handgun was located on him.
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Successes cont.
Industrial Park burglary arrest – A suspect entered a warehouse
where he stole approximately a quarter of $1 million worth of goods.
With the help of ALPR, officers were able to identify the suspect, and a
warrant was granted for the suspect’s arrest.
Rash of home burglaries arrest – ALPRs helped investigators
identified a suspect in a series of residential burglaries. The suspect had
a violent criminal history and was subsequently arrested.
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Successes cont.
Rose Market homicide – In 2022 the owner of Rose Market on
Columbus Parkway was murdered during a robbery. The ALPR system
assisted in confirming the vehicle used during the crimes, which
provided detectives with valuable information that resulted in the
arrest of the shooter three days later as well as recovering the gun. This
suspect is also believed to have committed over 20 robberies in the
region.
7-Eleven robbery – A 7-Eleven clerk on Military East was robbed at gun
point. Detectives were able to quickly determine the getaway car
which led them to locating and arresting the suspects two days later,
as well as recovering the gun used in the robbery.
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Successes cont.
Fast and Easy Store robbery – Two men robbed the clerk at a local
convenience store using a firearm. Vehicle was located using ALPRs
and a suspect with prior history for robbery was identified. Three
suspects were located, linked to the crime, and arrested.
Elderly missing person case – Officers responded to a critical missing
person investigation (elderly woman with dementia). While attempting
to locate the woman, Officers checked for her vehicle in the ALPR
system and was able to find her and eventually brought her back
home.
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Crime Data
10-year average Part 1 crimes – 478/year or
40/month
Since ALPR, ±12% reduction of overall Part 1
crimes
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Trends
• Increasing number of guns on the street
9 VS 24 arrests involving guns (2022 vs January-July2023)
• Crime is down, but arrests up
±20% increase in average arrests
• Increasing number of narcotics-related arrests
More in 7 months of 2023 (101) than all of 2022 (98)
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Recommendations
• Renewing contract for 5-years with Flock Safety for cost efficiency
• Identified gaps in coverage to further enhance safety –
6 new locations/cameras
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Future Plans
1 – Rose Dr & Hastings Dr
1 4
3 2 – Rose Dr & Panorama Dr
2
3 – E. 2nd St & East Industrial Way
4 – Lake Herman & Lopes Rd
5 5 – E. 2nd St at WB Interstate 780
6 6 – E. 5th St at WB Interstate 780
Benicia Police Department
ALPR Program
Final Thoughts
&
Questions